Archived News

LOC AGM - Wednesday 13th June 2018 7.30pm

The Cheltenham Chase Hotel, Brockworth, GL3 4PB

We will also have an interactive presentation and discussion in which we will discuss the local initatives and challenges for the coming three years.

May 2018

One of our local consultant colleagues, John Ferris, recently completed the Lake District cycling feat, The Fred Whitton Challenge. Along with his two "Amigos", Chris and Jonny, he completed this demanding ride in aid of the Gloucestershire Eye Therapy Trust (GETT)

If you would like to sponsor the "Three Amigos", donations can be made via this virginmoneygiving link:

Cirencester Park 10K Run

Sunday 17th September 10.30am

Prof Andrew McNaught, members of his family, and several members of staff from the hospital Eye Department will be running to raise money for the Gloucestershire Eye Therapy Trust (GETT). Those wishing to support Andy and his team of GETT fundraisers can pledge a donation at

Any of Gloucestershire's optometrists, dispensing opticians, and other practice staff would be welcome to join Andy's team of runners. If you are interested you can sign up to the event and join Andy's GETT team via this link:

Please let Gemma Edmondson know that you have signed up. Tel: 07761268010.

LOC AGM - Wednesday 14th June 2017

The Cheltenham Chase Hotel, Brockworth

7.00pm Buffet

7.30pm Meeting

Professor Andrew McNaught, Clinical Director for Ophthalmology for Gloucestershire NHSFT will speak on how he sees Eyecare developing within the county over the next five years and how we can work together to achieve this.

Zoe Richmond from LOCSU will also be present to give a national optometric perspective of the opportunities and challenges that we face.

Please contact Adrian Street at street.adrian@ymail.com to confirm your attendance and book the buffet if required.

November 2016 - Children's Vision Service

The next phase of the Community Eyecare Contract, the Children's Vision Service is due to go live on4th January 2017.

There will be a launch event on Wednesday December 7th at Keith Holland & Associates, 27 St Georges Road, Cheltenham, GL50 3DT (probable start time 6.30pm to be confirmed).

If you would like to register your interest in providing this service and book your place at the launch event please contact operations@peglos.org.uk by 23rd November.

LOC AGM - Wednesday 15th June 2016

The Chase Hotel, Brockworth

7.00pm Buffet

7.30pm Meeting

Mr Fadi Alkherdahji from Gloucestershire Hospital Trust will give an update on post-operative cataract assessment. This is particularly relevant in light of the PEG community services contract for post-operative care of second eye cataract procedures which launches in July.

Please contact Adrian Street at street.adrian@ymail.com to confirm your attendance and book the buffet if required.

April 2016

One of our local consultant colleagues, Prof Andy McNaught is part of a team enrolled to run a 10km race in the Forest of Dean on May 8th 2016.

They are hoping to raise money for Gloucestershire Eye Therapy Trust (GETT).

Gloucestershire LOC are sure that all donations to this important and worthwhile cause will be most appreciated.

July 2015

The LOC has been invited to attend a meeting at Sanger House to discuss the issue of health inequalities on 17th September 2015 at 2pm.

Susan Arnold, LOC Treasurer,I shall be attending as a a representative of the LOC on your behalf, but a greater presence is always more powerful. We would particularly welcome ophthalmic support from those with interest and/or experience in the area of vulnerable and hard to reach patients.

There is huge potential for optics to change many health pathways within the NHS at the moment, but we need to make sure that our voice is heard to make this happen. If you could spare a couple of hours to help shape the future of optics we would very much appreciate your support.

The Team can visit you in your practice and deliver a short presentation that will train your staff to help smokers access the right support to achieve a healthier lifestyle and cut their risk of avoidable sight loss.

RSVP by ASAP to:

6.30pm Buffet

7.00pm Meeting

Guest speakers include Mr Ric Caesar and Mr Fadi Alkherdahji from Gloucestershire Hospital Tust who will give an update on the cataract service, and Dr Nicola Logan of Aston University and the Myopia Consortium UK who will give a presentation on ‘Myopic development and Optometrist led control strategies’.

Please note the following exclusion criteria for patients that fall within the following categories:

* Under 18 years of age
* High suspicion of cancer
* Clinical emergencies
* Unstable ASA 3 (e.g. poorly controlled co-morbidities) We do accept well

controlled ASA 3
* Pregnancy
* BMI of more than 40 for general anaesthetic or 45 for local anaesthetic
* Patients with co-morbidities that have a high likelihood of requiring HDU

and ITU back up after treatment

Sally Douthwaite, Patient Administration Manager can be contacted at sally.douthwaite@careuk.com<mailto:sally.douthwaite@careuk.com> for information on current waiting times for Outpatient and surgery appointments.

To print a copy of this information please click link on the right hand panel.

NHS Shared Business Services

From 1st August 2012, the contact details for Ophthalmic Payment Services in Gloucestershire has changed to:

FHS Ophthalmic Payments Team

5QH Gloucestershire PCT

P O Box 652

Wakefield WR1 9HU

All practices should have received correspondence from NHS SBS outlining these changes. Click the link on the right for a copy of the letter.

Wednesday 27th March 2013, 6pm - 9.30pm

Three Counties Optometry Society/LOC CET event, at the Royal George Hotel, Birdlip.

Each of the 2 main lectures will address competencies for both Dispensing Opticians and Optometrists. Each lecture should be awarded 1 CET point. Lectures are not considered to be interactive, but TCOS / GlosLOC will be arranging an interactive Peer Review workshop later this year.

To confirm that you will be attending this event, please reply directly to Frances Reilly at frances.reilly@glos.nhs.uk, stating whether or not you will be attending for the buffet as well.

November 2012

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHSF Trust and NHS Gloucestershire are changing their telephone number pre-fixes from 26th November 2012.

17 January 2012

We announce the introduction of a new direct referral form for Yag Laser Capsulotomy within Gloucestershire with immediate effect.

Please read the protocols attached, and download the form from the right of this page, or from the 'Forms & Leaflets to Download' page to use.

12 December 2011

The new 'Vale Hospital' at Dursley opened it's doors on Monday 5th December 2011. The Vale Hospital replaces Berkeley Hospital and Sandpits Clinic in Dursley which closed on 2nd December 2011.

Eye Outpatient clinics from Berkeley Hospital will now take place at the new Hospital in Dursley.

The address of the new Hospital is:

Vale Community Hospital

Lister Road

Dursley

GL11 4BA

Telephone: 0345 659 8494

November 2011

The Glaucoma evening on Wednesday 2nd November was exceptionally well supported with over 80 optometrists attending to hear Rosemary Robinson's lecture 'Glaucoma in Practice: Optic Disc and Visual Field Assessment'. Lisa Collins presented an update of the Gloucestershire Glaucoma Referral Refinement Scheme, followed by a question and answer session with Professor Andrew McNaught and David Adams.

Steve Guilford briefly explained the LOC survey which is currently underway. This is an important step towards understanding the current activity within practice across the county in order for us to negotiate with the PCT in the future.

1 October 2010

Cataract Direct Referral 3-month Review A letter outlining the 3-month review of the Gloucestershire direct cataract referral scheme is being emailed/posted to all community optometrists in the county today. If you do not receive a copy please contact Frances Reilly at administrator@glosloc.co.uk or on 08454 224736.